Literary Riot: A Self-Made Man, Coming Out Transgender
In collaboration with Get Lit: Get Lit – Words Ignite unites classic and spoken word poetry to empower youth and inspire communities. By engaging youth in literature in and after school, Get Lit allows teens to become engaged in their own futures and unearth their potential. "Claim your poem, claim your life.”
Drew Anderson
Venice High School, 16 years old
“Requiescat” by Oscar Wilde
Why did you choose that classic poem?
I chose my classic “Requiescat” by Oscar Wilde because he was talking about losing a sister. I looked into it and it kind of reminded me how my family treated me coming out as trans, as if they were losing a daughter. That really spoke to me and I felt like that would be the best poem I could possibly respond to because I knew exactly what I wanted to say to my parents.
What inspired your response poem?
My response definitely came from my experience with my family and how they had responded to me coming out as trans. It also came from experiences I had heard from other people in the trans community. I had been able to share my poem with people I knew and I realized that a lot of people had experienced the same thing. That really helped me add to it and get out what I wanted to say. It was also a way for me to address an issue that I really needed to address.
Do you feel like the Get Lit program and writing as a whole has helped you express yourself and channel that emotion?
Yea! I think the Get Lit program has given me an opportunity to share my voice. I have always wanted to write but I have never had a platform to get my voice out there. I feel like the Get Lit program gives that to a lot of people and I’m really happy that I got to be apart of it.
Do you feel like Get Lit has helped you break down stereotypes that you had towards others and others had towards you?
I feel like Get Lit definitely helped because it gave me the opportunity to truly see other people. Within their words, you can see an image of the person they are and the things they have experienced. It helps you understand that everyone has their own problems and their own stuff they are dealing with. When you hear those really personal poems, you just think, “I feel you and you are so strong for using your words to get out your story.” It’s so amazing to see everyone and what they do.
Do you feel, as a 16-year-old transgender in a judgmental America, that Get Lit and poetry has given you a more positive outlet to express yourself?
Definitely! I think Get Lit is giving a positive outlet to not just me but a lot of people. I have never really had a super positive outlet for my emotions and this has probably been the best thing that I have done. I never liked speaking in public. I’ve also never really felt like sharing my writing but this was something where I thought, “I want to do this!” I have never been so happy about sharing and getting my story out there.